Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Graeme Francis 

Items
No. Item

1.

Introductions, apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

The Llywydd welcomed members to the meeting.

2.

Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes:

The Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed for publication.

3.

Organisation of Business

3.1

This week's business

Minutes:

The Llywydd informed Business Managers that she will make a short tribute to former Member Mick Bates, who passed away recently, at the start of today’s meeting.

 

Business Committee agreed that Plenary business postponed from 13 and 14 September owing to the period of National Mourning for Her Majesty The Queen would be rescheduled for 20 and 21 September, including the Oral Questions and motions for debate already tabled. The Trefnydd drew Business Managers’ attention to the following additions to Tuesday’s business: 

                                     

  • Statement by the First Minister: Update on the Cost of Living (45 mins)
  • Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on Covid and Winter Pressures (30 mins)
  • Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Update on Free School Meals (30 mins)

 

  • There will be no voting time.
  • Plenary is unlikely to run past 6.15pm.

 

Wednesday 

 

The Llywydd explained that as a full window for tabling amendments to Wednesday’s debate motions had not previously been possible, the Table Office will accept amendments tabled today. Consequently, a Motion to suspend Standing Orders will be added to Wednesday’s agenda to enable any amendments that are tabled to be debated.

 

  • Voting Time will take place before the Short Debate.  
  • Plenary is unlikely to run past 7.15pm. 

 

The Llywydd informed Business Managers of several changes to voting procedures in Plenary from the start of the autumn term, following previous discussions in Business Committee and amendments made to Standing Orders at the end of the summer term. She also indicated the intention to cease the practice of a break before voting time, once Members have had an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new arrangements.

 

Updated guidance on hybrid and virtual proceedings will be considered further by Business Committee and the Chairs’ Forum shortly, prior to being provided to Members.

 

3.2

Three week timetable of Government Business

Minutes:

The Trefnydd drew Business Committee’s attention to the following changes:

 

Tuesday 27 September 2022 -

 

  • Statement by the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd: The Agriculture (Wales) Bill (60 mins) 
  • Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Services: Early Years Provision – Expansion of Flying Start (30 mins) 
  • Statement by the Minister for Education: Supporting the Education Workforce (30 mins) 
  • Statement by the Minister for Economy: Qatar 2022 (30 mins) 
  • Statement by the Minister for Social Justice: Update on Ukraine (30 mins) 
  • Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip: World Heritage in Northwest Wales (30 mins) 

 

Tuesday 4 October 2022 -

 

  • Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: The Cymraeg 2050 Annual Report 2021-22 (30 mins)

 

Tuesday 11 October 2022 -

 

  • Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Publication of the Electoral Administration and Reform White Paper (30 mins)
  • Statement by the Minister for Economy: Regional Economic Development (30 mins) 
  • Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Approach to Respiratory Viruses (30 mins) 
  • Statement by the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing: Evaluation of ‘Together for Mental Health’ Strategy and Next Steps (30 mins) 
  • The Marine, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Financial Assistance) Scheme (Wales) Regulations 2022 (15 mins) 
  • The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2022 (15 mins)  
  • Proposal under Standing Order 12.24 to debate the following items together but with separate votes (60 mins): 

o   Debate on the General Principles of the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill 

o   Motion to agree the financial resolution in respect of the Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill 

 

Dates for future Oral Question sessions have also been adjusted following the period of National Mourning and will be republished.

 

3.3

Three week timetable of Senedd Business

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed to schedule and re-schedule the following items of business following the period of National Mourning.

 

Wednesday 28 September 2022 – 

 

  • Questions to the Senedd Commission (30 mins) Postponed until 5 October 
  • Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins) Postponed until 5 October 
  • Motion to approve the Official Languages Scheme for the Sixth Senedd and note the annual report on the Official Languages Scheme for 2021-22 (60 mins) Postponed from 21 September 
  • Short Debate: Joel James (South Wales Central) (30 mins) Postponed from 21 September 
  • Short Debate: Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn) (30 mins) 

 

Wednesday 5 October 2022 -

 

  • Questions to the Senedd Commission (30 mins) Postponed from 28 September 
  • Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) (60 mins) Postponed from 28 September 
  • Debate on the Local Government and Housing Committee’s report on second homes (60 mins) 
  • Time allocated to the Welsh Conservatives (60 mins)  
  • Short Debate: Sam Rowlands (North Wales) (30 mins) 

 

Wednesday 12 October 2022 -          

 

  • Debate on the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee report: Review of the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (60 mins) Postponed from 21 September 
  • Debate on the Health and Social Care Committee report: Hospital discharge and its impact on patient flow through hospitals (60 mins) 
  • Time allocated to Plaid Cymru (60 mins)  
  • Short Debate: Luke Fletcher (South Wales West) (30 mins) 

 

The Llywydd informed Business Committee that the new deadline for Members to table motions for selection for the Member Debate scheduled for 5 October will be 5pm on Thursday 22 September. Due to the Bank Holiday, the ballots for next week’s Oral Question sessions will be held on Tuesday 20 September.

 

4.

Legislation

4.1

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Wales) Bill - revised timetable

Minutes:

The Trefnydd presented a revised timetable for scrutiny of the Bill, due to its introduction having been delayed until after to the period of National Mourning. The Business Committee agreed to consult the Climate Change, Environment and InfrastructureCommittee on the proposed revised timetable, and to return to the matter at the next meeting.   

 

4.2

The Agriculture (Wales) Bill - timetable

Minutes:

Business Committee agreed to refer the Bill to the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, and to defer a decision on the timetable for the Bill in order to consult the Committee and return to the matter at a future meeting.  

 

4.3

Update on LCMs

Minutes:

The Trefnydd provided an update on UK Government bills and LCMs. The Business Committee agreed to:

 

  • refer the LCM on the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill for scrutiny to the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 1 December;
  • extend the reporting deadline for the LCM and the Supplementary LCM on the Procurement Bill to 24 November;
  • extend the reporting deadline for the LCM on the Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill to 1 December;
  • extend the reporting deadline for the LCM on the Schools Bill to 1 December;
  • maintain the current reporting deadline of 17 November for the LCM and the Supplementary LCM on the UK Infrastructure Bank Bill; and
  • note the update provided by the Government on other UK Bills and LCMs.

 

5.

Senedd Timetable

5.1

Recess dates

Minutes:

Business Committee confirmed recess dates for the Spring Half Term and Easter 2023 and agreed provisional recess dates for Whitsun Half Term and Summer 2023.

 

 

 

 

6.

Any other business

Minutes:

Other Bills currently being scrutinised

The Trefyndd provided an oral update on the two bills currently being scrutinised by the Senedd: the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill and the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill. The Trefnydd proposed that the timetables for these Bills should remain unchanged, but indicated that the Government would be open to discussing a short extension to the deadline for Initial Consideration stage of the Historic Environment (Wales) Bill should the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee find it helpful.

Business Committee noted the update and agreed to consult the Equality and Social Justice Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee on the proposed approaches to the respective reporting deadlines for both bills.